Ratchet wrench



April 11, 1939. E Ml PADGETT 2,153-988 RATCHET WRENCH Filed July 8, 1936 .Z5 .f5 f6 ma Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STA'EES nasse smear ersten 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in ratchet socket wrenches, and one object of my invention is the provision of aA wrench of this character which will be of small and Compact size to enable its operation or manipulation in close quarters in the application or removal of a nut, and which can be operated with ease and facility under all conditions.

Another object or" my invention is the production of a wrench which will quickly apply or remove a nut without requiring the detachment of the wrench, this being accomplished by providing a structure which will free wheel or rotate with ease in one direction and take hold or remove the nut by movement in the reverse or opposite direction,

Another object of my invention is the provision of a wrench which will operate quickly and eiliciently under all conditions and which will be of simple, durable and inexpensive construction and thoroughly practical and eflicient.

With these objects in view my invention consists of a wrench of the character stated embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts, substantially as described and claimed and as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l represents a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of a wrench constructed in accordince with and embodying my invention, with the parts in normal or intial position.

Figure 2 represents a similar View with the parts of the wrench in the position they occupy when the wrench operates to remove the nut.

Figure 3 represents a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 represents a perspective View of the main operating mechanism which forms the essential elements of my invention.

My invention is of extremely simple construction and comprises mainly the shell or casing I, having the chamber 2, and the threaded mouth 3, to receive the beveled ring il, and further having the reduced upper portion 5, having an angular socket d, to receive the angular end l, of the handle or lever l', all as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The upper portion of the casing or shell is also formed with the passage or slot 8, in which is mounted and vertically movable the headed guide pins 9, connected with the plunger I0, having upon its lower face the teeth II.

A ring or cage` I2 carrying a series of rollers I3 (Cl. 81-60i' is mounted for rotation in the chamber of the shell or casing.

To the lower portion of the ring or cage I2, is secured the plate I5, which is retained in place by the ring il, and to the upper portion of the ring is secured the plate or disk i6, having on its underface the two sets of inclined grooves or kerfs Il. Said plate is also provided with the opening I8 to receive the circular head or locking key I9, having the teeth 2Q, which co-act with the teeth II, on the plunger IIJ, in a manner and for a purpose which will presently appear,

The circular head I9, is further provided on its under face with a seat or socket I9', to receive a spring I9, whose tendency is to force or move said head upward to normally cause the ears 2l, on the head to engagel a pair of the slots or kerfs Il, of the plate I6 the kerfs being slightly wider than the thickness of the ears. The ears 2i when forced down by movement of the plunger Ill, as shown in Figure 2, enter the slots 22, in the upper portion 23, of the stud or post 23', whose lower angular end 24 having a spring pressed detent 2I, fits in the nut engaging member 25.

In their normal engaged position in the keris Il, the ears 2I permit limited relative rotation between the cage I2 and post whereby a clutching action is secured between the post and cage in one direction of rotation of the wrench and a non-turning movement secured on reverse rotation of the wrench. To reverse the clutching action the head I9 is depressed as by pushing down on handle 'I' and/or plunger Ill to disengage the ears 2l with one pair of the two sets of kerfs II shown and the ears engaged with the second pair of kerfs.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawing the manner of using or the operation of my wrench will be readily understood and from Figure 1 it will be noted that the cage or ring may be readily rotated to any extent in one direction and that the ratchets will act to hold the cage in the reversed direction, while in Figure 2, it will be noted that the handle forces the plunger down and the teeth I I, and the teeth 2l! are brought into engagement and the wrench will operate to permit the post 23', tc effect the removal of the nut without withdrawing the wrench. In other Words, my structure permits the wrench to rotate or free wheel, to rotate any desired distance, and to operate perfectly in the application of the nut, or in its removal as desired.

I claim:

A ratchet wrench comprising a shell having an upper portion formed with an angular passage to receive the angular end of a manipulating tool and a lower portion formed with a circular chamber having a reduced circular passage leading to and coaxial with said angular passage, a slotted cylindrical cage rotatably mounted in said chamber, clutch rollers in said slots effecting driving engagement between said shell and a post disposed axially in said cage, said post having a l0 socket engaging portion at its lower end and an axial bore at its upper end, a locking key nonrotatably mounted in said bore and slidable therein, said key having selective engagement with either of a pair of locking grooves on said cage, a plunger in said circular passage engaging said key to shift said key from one of said pair of grooves to the other for reversing the driving direction of said Wrench, said key having limited oscillation in said locking grooves.

ELMER M. PADGETT. 

